Fashion: Emily Schuman

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Fashion List Here.

From blogger to fashion boss. 

Emily Schuman, founder-turned-fashion boss at Cupcakes & Cashmere, wants you to know that the work/life balance myth is exactly that... a myth. Since launching her wildly popular lifestyle blog in 2008, Schuman has parlayed her unparalleled instinct for fashion, food, beauty and interiors into two books, as well as successful clothing, home, and lighting lines by the same name. Couple that with being a wife and new mom, it’s no wonder the elusive “balance” isn’t exactly in the cards for this blogger-cum-business maven.

“In a lot of ways, it really is a myth for me, which is why it's so important to have times when I'm not ‘on,’” explains the multi-tasking mama. She’s as effortless at DIY-ing marbled napkin rings and ombre picnic utensils as she is throwing together an impromptu-yet-festive holiday look or whipping up some home-baked, namesake cupcakes to satisfy those pregnancy cravings. At least, that’s what Instagram would have you believe.

Despite Schuman’s impeccably curated existence, she’s not afraid to get real and tell it like it is. She describes the chaos of her early career and the stress of planning a wedding with managing a blog as a team of one, all while penning her first book. On one particularly high-strung occasion, she recalls being physically peeled away from her desk to get some much-needed rest by her then-fiance, now-husband Geoffrey. “I remember insisting that I still had things to finish and he sweetly reassured me that it would be good to get some sleep and that I could get to things in the morning. He couldn't have been more right.”

These days, the budding business tycoon is inching closer to some semblance of time management, although it’s still a work in progres. “I'll set aside my phone on weekends for large chunks of time and disconnect anytime I'm with my family or friends so that I can enjoy their company and not feel dependent on social media,” says the two-time author, who still struggles with work/life separation. “I also put a lot of importance on spending time with my husband and daughter in the mornings and at night, so I won't be checking email or responding to calls during those periods. As much as possible I try to keep regular working hours so that I'm not on-call 24 hours a day.”

"I'll set aside my phone on weekends and disconnect anytime I'm with my family." 

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At just 33, Schuman has already created a mini empire, boasting books, brands, and bag designs for Coach as well as a capsule collection with Club Monaco. In a notoriously flighty and easily distracted industry, she’s built a beloved blog with mass appeal and trend-defying relevance. And as the business has grown and evolved, so has the powerhouse behind it.

“When I first started my career, I felt almost embarrassed by my success and would try to downplay certain achievements. Now, as a 33-year-old business woman, I embrace it in a way that’s empowered and am proud of my accomplishments,” she explains. “I’m a lot kinder to myself in my 30s than I was in my 20s.”

With this newfound sense of empowerment and wisdom comes a desire to pay it forward  — to inspire future generations of female entrepreneurs and create the kinds of opportunities for them that she was fortunate enough to receive. “I've been able to forge my own path and largely avoid the prejudices my closest girlfriends have encountered in the workforce, but having a one-year-old daughter has really put things into perspective for me,” says Schuman. “I’m raising her to be a strong woman who will fight for gender equality, but I only hope that by the time she is my age, she won’t have to fight quite as hard as previous generations.”

"I’m raising my daughter to be a strong woman who will fight for gender equality."

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That said, she maintains that the best piece of real talk advice she’s ever received is that it’s okay to cry in the workplace. “Obviously you don’t want to be a blubbering mess on a weekly basis, but it’s okay to get emotional sometimes if you’re passionate about what you do.”

Let it out, ladies. A *little blubbering* might be good for biz.  

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Music: DJ Kitty Cash

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Music List Here.

Brooklyn's resident badass. 

Kitty Cash has a new routine that has nothing to do with music, but maybe everything to do with where she is in her career. “Every morning,” shares the born and raised Brooklyn-based DJ, producer, and model, “I write down three things I am grateful for.” 

Those might include some career highs like: looking up from a DJ set to see Beyoncé grooving, playing for performance artist Marina Abramovic, who told her “Kitty, you are the future,” and a tribute set she played to Missy Elliot at the Essence Festival.

Her support from other female artists surely arises out of Cash's own feeling on the matter; what you put out, is what you get back. "Female empowerment is understanding that women unifying is a powerful force," Cash shares. "That we can create by being there for each other." She recently took to Instagram to show her love and support for friend and rising musician SZA.

But she didn’t get her start DJing. After graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology with a BA in advertising and marketing communications, Cash worked in public relations at Ralph Lauren, moving on to work as head of marketing and communications at G-Star. “When I first graduated, I set a goal and I stuck to it,” the denim obsessed DJ shares. “I wanted to work for a brand and climb the social ladder until I was an EVP of a company.” 

It was during her time at G-Star that she began DJ’ing for artist Kilo Kish. She loved it so much that she decided to replace her 9-5 with her passion. “When I was working at G-Star, the more I developed Kitty Cash, the more I realized I was an asset and I should make my position work for me just as much as I worked for my position.” Now when it comes to her career her approach is drastically different, calling it “more of a symbiotic relationship or a partnership.” Adding,  “When it comes to my career I am structured, but I also leave room for life to run its course. I am always open to trying something new because you never know when you will discover a new passion.”

Read more from Kitty Cash below on how she found a new passion and why strengthening her relationship with her mother led to a place of self-love. 

What are some of the challenges you've encountered along the way? 

There was definitely a learning curve, starting fresh in a new industry slash a new world and finding my own lane. As an entrepreneur time management is extremely important and was a challenge in the beginning as well.

The DJ space is traditionally male. But more female DJs and artists are emerging. Are there women you looked up to? Who paved the way?

I really love Spinderella, DJ Beverly Bond, and Annie Mac.

And how does it feel to be a woman in the music industry today?

I think now more than ever I feel very empowered. Although it is a male-dominated industry I have come across some very powerful women who are very supportive and are able to teach me and help me grow within this space.

"More than ever I feel very empowered."

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What keeps you going?

Knowing how amazing it feels to be behind the decks and really control a room. You can't buy that feeling!

What is the best piece of "real talk" advice you've received? 

Stay true to yourself because that is what got you here in the first place.

What is a time in your life when you thought, 'I can't do this anymore?’

I probably have that moment once a month. It is so easy to think or say you can't do something but you have to remember why you started and that nothing ever comes easy.

Do you have any extracurricular activities?

I love making stationary and African/Caribbean dance.

International Women’s Day is coming up. It's a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. If you could steer the conversation around International Women’s Day, what would that dialogue be about?

I would talk about women being the champions of their own causes. Highlighting what they have done within their field and their contribution to society rather than them being a woman. This is why I believe it is important to give recognition to movies like "Women of Brewster Place," "Hidden Figures," and "The Color Purple."

How has your relationship with yourself changed in the last five years?

For the first three years out of the five, I realized that strengthening my relationship with my mother allowed me to fill a lot of voids and questions I had about myself. Through her I learned a lot about myself, and through her mistakes I saw how I could be a better me. With her love I developed self-love. I've been able to understand what makes me happy, what I deserve, and what deserves my energy. I learned to be grateful, honor my worth, and love myself the way that I am, just being proud of myself and who I am blossoming into. It is so easy to see all of the wrongs, the imperfections, the things you want to change about yourself but what about everything that makes you you? I have learned to allow myself to live everyday to the fullest and I am still learning to love and respect the journey.

"I learned to be grateful, honor my worth, and love myself the way that I am."

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What does female empowerment mean to you?

Being open to nurture, cultivate, honor, and grow with other women. It's understanding that women unifying is a powerful force that we can create by being there for each other.

Philanthropy: Leslie Engle Young, Pencils of Promise

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Philanthropy List Here. 

Bridging the education gap. 

Pencils of Promise is a global education organization that builds schools and provides educational programming to increase literacy rates in Ghana, Guatemala, Laos, and Nicaragua. Since its founding in 2008, Pencils of Promise has served over 30,000 students. 

Leslie Engle Young plays a vital role at the company: Director of Impact. A title unlike many others on the job market today. 

Prior to working with Pencils of Promise Leslie was focused on two very different paths: early childhood education and short story writing. After studying English and fiction writing in college she was set on being a writer. At the same time she was teaching preschool in Portland, OR. As the daughter of two educators her career path made plenty of sense. “Practical sense,” Leslie says. 

Until she took a leap. A major one. Buying a one-way ticket across the world to Laos when she was 23 and looking for more. She stayed almost four years, as the Country Director in Laos, creating on-the-ground change through education. 

What is the most important step you took to where you are today?

There wasn't one singular step that got me in the job I have today. In fact, it was the repetition of stepping forward again and again and again that got me here. My job has changed greatly through the years, from being one of two volunteers on-the-ground in Laos, to overseeing our impact across four different countries from our HQ office in New York. My role today looks nothing like it once does, and it was the commitment to continuing to learn and continuing to step into the unknown that kept me here. 

What are the challenges you encountered along the way?

Some of the biggest challenges came in the early days in Laos. Myself, and my Lao colleague Lanoy, frankly didn't look the part. And in a communist country that is primarily run by men, that was difficult. We were two women, then 25 and 30, with no previous experience setting up an NGO or building out an education system. This came with heavy doses of doubt and skepticism from those around us, which at times, was tiring. But we sought a lot of strength from one another and ultimately we sought strength from the people we got to work with--from the parents, teachers and students who were endlessly dedicated to carving out as much opportunity as possible for themselves and their communities. 

What is the "promise" of Pencils of Promise?

Our promise is one of opportunity. We believe that every child, regardless of status or location, deserves the right to a quality education. We promise to work with communities and governments to ensure equal opportunity for all children. 

Why do you think education is the most powerful weapon to change the world?

Because education is agency.

What keeps you going?

My coworkers! I work with a group of people all over the world who are endlessly dedicated to making their countries a better place. They are constant source or motivation and inspiration. 

Who are the people you consider your mentors or influences and why?

Women everywhere. Women leading, women working, women mothering. Women who are doing it day in and day out. Women who, in many parts of the world, keep going despite every single odd. Women who come together and believe in their combined power and their voices. 

"Women everywhere. Women leading, women working, women mothering."

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Do you remember having a mentor at the beginning of your career?

In the first year I was in Laos I met and got to know a man named Mike who worked for a larger NGO in town. He had 15+ years of solid experience on me and had been working in aid and disaster relief in some of the most challenging places on earth. I was young, probably very naive, and in desperate need of some straightforward guidance. Mike was always ready to talk over a fruit shake or a beer on the Mekong, never sugarcoating anything yet always infusing everything with his signature optimism and zest. I don't know what those first couple of years would have been without his friendship (and that of his equally amazing wife) and guidance. 

What is the best piece of "real talk" advice you've received? 

My dad, a lifelong educator, was the one person who got me through being a preschool teacher (a job that is not for the faint of heart). When I would call him in tears after a particularly exhausting day with 20 three and four-year-olds, he used to say to me, full of love and sarcasm, "Don't you just hate it when kids act their age?" That sobering comment sums up working with people. We're all coming from different places with different realities and baggage, and the ability to have empathy and understanding for one's actions can help us cross the biggest cultural and generational gaps. 

Do you have any extracurricular activities?

Running--I run half and full marathons.

How has your relationship with yourself changed in the last five years?

I've learned to take more structured time for myself. A lot of this came with running. When you train for a marathon, you need a lot of hours--weekend runs can take up half of the day. I've used this to be my own time and space and hope that as life continues to get busier I remember to really embrace and cherish that time. 

How has your relationship to your career changed?

Over time I've grown to really embrace the discomfort and the learning curves in my career. At first it was hard--I wanted to have things right the first time around. But I've come to really thrive off of the unknown and the challenges. I enjoy the opportunity to fail fast and learn from it as quickly as possible. 

What’s next?

My next five years will be about starting a family and sharing the joy and purpose of my work and travel with our kids.

Fashion: Rebecca Minkoff

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Fashion List Here.

From ramen days to real tasty success. 

The early Rebecca Minkoff days were “the ramen days,” according to the mom and mogul who heads up her eponymously named fashion empire. "I worked out of a walk up and it was a real hustle.”

Most people know that Rebecca started with one bag: her iconic Morning After Bag (M.A.B for those ITK), but she’s been making clothes and sewing from a young age. At eight she asked her mother for a dress, a request that was refused but met by a challenge: she’d teach her daughter how to sew. So the budding designer-to-be went to sewing camp. Then she went to performing arts high school, where she got a taste for design in the drama costume department. Eventually landing an internship for a designer in New York where the CEO taught her the ins and outs of every department. 

Fast forward to 2001. She took her scrappy approach to fashion and business and launched her eponymous label. She used the last of her savings to make her first bag without any assurance that she would succeed. A little over ten years ago, in 2005, it was just Rebecca and an intern. Her brother Uri mortgaged his home and maxed out his own credit cards to keep the business from going bust. Today the brand sells to over 900 retailers, has over 10 stores internationally, including four stateside, and is looking to open more. 

From day one she’s been a staple in her company. “Early on, I was told by retailers not to have a direct dialogue with my customer,” says Rebecca. “They thought I was cheapening myself by being accessible. I decided not to take their advice - which as a very young brand was a risk. But I know that decision had a huge part to play in our success.” 

Even as the RM brand has grown exponentially the way Rebecca conducts business has remained constant. “I've always had my hand in everything,” the fashion mogul shares. “I'm in the office every day.”

"I've always had my hand in everything. I'm in the office every day." 

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She counts her mother and brother Uri, who has stayed on as CEO, as tremendous influences. She also “hugely admire[s] women like Jessica Alba who have built incredible businesses for families.”

Rebecca is a mom herself to daughter, Bowie, and son, Luca. Striking a balance every day is “impossible,” but she handles her mom-boss status by way of “trial and error, and more than anything trusting myself. Knowing when to step in and knowing when it's okay to step back.” She works out twice a week with a trainer, admitting “the two sessions are all I have time for, but my trainer makes it worth my while.” And on the weekends you can catch her spending time with her family, having a glass of wine with her husband or escaping to Quogue. “I’m pretty bomb in the kitchen,” the CEO adds.

While she certainty doesn’t pretend that her day-to-day is effortless, Rebecca manages to handle her career and motherhood with grace. Even in moments of doubt and financial distress, she never gave in. Even in the beginning when a factory put another, very successful brand’s logo hardware on her bags. “Occasionally there are moments when you need to reflect and ask, 'OK, how am I doing?,” she says.  And, “What needs to change so that I can get through this?” But got through it she did. 

With a fashion empire and a family, she still finds time to host a salon series. “I do a fireside chat with a woman I admire. We'll talk about her successes and discuss the different challenges we've had and really just share stories.” For her female empowerment is about “championing each other and rooting for each other - rather than always trying to come first and comparing yourself to someone else.”

If you're looking for a female role model in business, the designer of the M.A.B is as F-A-B as it gets.

Philanthropy: Lauren Paul & Molly Thompson, Kind Campaign

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Philanthropy List Here. 

Killing it with kindness.

Both Lauren Paul and Molly Thompson, co-founders of The Kind Campaign experienced bullying in middle and high school. Experiences that shaped who they are and gave them the first-hand knowledge needed when they launched Kind Campaign. 

While attending Pepperdine University, Lauren had the opportunity to intern for Tom Shadyac on his documentary project, I Am. Wanting to do something since being "severely bullied" in middle school, Lauren shares that the experience working on a documentary gave her the idea to work on a documentary of her own. One that specifically addressed the issues of bullying. 

Lunch in the Broadway Cafe at Pepperdine was the starting point, when both Molly and Lauren enthusiastically said, “YES” to an “uncharted adventure.” 

“It was during that life-changing lunch,” shares Lauren, “that I pitched the idea about creating a documentary.” Molly was all-in. “From that moment on,” she says, “we dove head first into everything. The moment we turned on the cameras and held our first interview for the film, we both knew there was a huge potential for something greater.” 

That was in 2008. Bullying wasn’t the hot-button topic it is now. They didn’t know if people would be willing to open up about their experiences. But the moment women and girls started talking it was clear that the issue had been swept under the rug for too long. Like Lauren, Molly had her own share of bullying experiences in high school. “Bullying specifically between females,” shares Molly, “was not addressed. It was almost expected and accepted as a rite of passage.”

The college seniors were about to launch a movement. 

Those initial interviews for Finding Kind, paved the road toward Kind Campaign, which officially launched in February, 2009. Since inception, Molly and Lauren have spoken at over 400 schools in North American and the UK, activated 390 Kind Clubs across the globe, and Lauren shares that “Kind Campaign Assemblies are now hosted by faculty and volunteers almost every day of the school year.” The co-founders are getting ready to head out on their 12th Founders Assembly Tour. 

It’s been an incredible journey for both. Lauren grew up in Orange County and Molly in Dallas, but after sharing a laugh over a YouTube video their junior year of college the two became “fast friends.” 

“It feels very surreal looking back on the last several years,” shares Molly who gave birth to daughter Lyla last August and understands the power of the messaging more than ever. “When we first started Kind Campaign, we were running on passion and adrenaline, pulling all nighters and barely scraping by with enough funds to keep going and spreading the movement.” Now the goal of offering free global programming is a reality. 

Lauren knows that more than ever young women need to know “that they matter, they are heard and they are equal. That no one can tell them who they are and what they can and can't accomplish.” She also brings up the power of social media and the influence it has over girls’ self-esteem. “There needs to be more conversation about how to have a healthy relationship with your phone. To remind girls that their worth is not determined by how many likes or followers they have.” Adding, “This is something we ALL need to hear and think about.” 

More from the co-founders below. 

What do you think young women and girls need to hear now more than ever?

Molly: That they are strong, powerful, beautiful, inspiring, unique, and more than capable of accomplishing anything that they put their minds to. And then remind them of this over and over and over again in order to combat the mixed messages that women and girls are fed by the media, by what is going on in our world today, by the experience that they have at school or in the workplace, and by the things that they start to tell themselves because it has become so ingrained within them. I think more than anything they need to be encouraged and allowed to be whoever it is they truly are, rather than to be told what it is they can or can't do, or be put in a box. Now, more than ever, I think we need to remind ourselves and our peers that we are enough, more than enough; and no one can take away our intellect, our self respect, our beauty, our talents, our voice, or our worth

How can we each carry kindness into the world?

Lauren: Serving others doesn’t necessarily mean starting your own non-profit or dedicating your whole life to community service. One of my favorite quotes was said by Howard Thurman. It reads: “Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

I deeply believe in that motto. There is nothing better than a person who comes alive when they tell or show you what they do or what they’re passionate about, whether that’s being a teacher, sailing, owning a bakery, being a lawyer, singing or being a mom. You will be the best you if you find a way to do what you love and love what you do.

Molly: Every single person has the ability to change the course of someone else's life, just by being awake, being aware, and being kind. We truly do not know the battles that others face in their day-to-day lives, so if we just focus on ourselves and our ability to carry kindness into the world, and we are a light in someone else's life (however small it may be), we have the chance to make someone's day and even save their life.

What is a time in your life when you thought, 'I can't do this anymore?'

Lauren: When I went through my experience being bullied in middle school I remember waking up every morning and thinking that there was no way I was going to make it through another day of school.  I went to bed every night not wanting to wake up in the morning. I truly lost myself.  But with the support of one friend and my family, I was able to dig myself out of that depression and now I look back and that dark time and know that it all happened for a reason.  Without that experience, I would not be doing the work I am doing. I am now able to stand in front of hundreds of girls in our assemblies and remind them that their school experience is just one chapter of their story.  That no matter how dark the chapter is that you are in, there is a whole life ahead of you, waiting to be lived, filled with love and adventure.

What's a surprising story you heard during a school assembly that's stuck with you?

Lauren: Rachel is a girl we met during our last Spring tour while in Utah. At the end of all of our assemblies, we take a picture with the group of girls we are speaking to and post the picture on Kind Campaign’s social media. We were scrolling through the girls comments on her school’s photo and came across this comment from Rachel:

“I was at the Kind Campaign assembly at Draper Park. You guys really changed my point of view on everything. I can relate to everyone in the film. Every girlfriend I've had, I have lost.This morning when I woke up I was thinking about committing suicide. I came to school today on the verge of tears. Once I got in and sat down I wasn't really paying attention but once I watched the movie and I was in tears. I came up and shared my Kind Card. It was about one of my best friends. He stood by me through all my hard times. Once I got home I realized that even though some girls can be rude and don't understand what their words can do that it shouldn't be worth dying over. I called my best friend and talked to him for an hour. I was just crying my eyes out. Your assembly today? Yeah, it saved my life.”

We were really moved after reading that and immediately connected with her through Instagram and offered further support with our in-house counselor. Our on-call therapist counsels girls and parents who write to Kind Campaign and need extra conversation and support. This service is free of charge. I still keep in touch with Rachel and she is happy, healthy and doing so well!

What does female empowerment mean to you?

Molly: Everything. Female empowerment is everything. Celebrating each other, our accomplishments, our differences, our failures and our victories so that we feel emboldened and proud of who we are with the knowledge that we are good enough. It has taken on a new meaning since having Lyla. Even though it's always been important to me, now it's even more personal. Not just for myself, not even for all of the incredible young women we meet through our work, but for her - my little heartbeat. She needs to know her worth and feel supported and celebrated. Not judged and picked a part, scrutinized under a more harsh microscope than others.

"Female empowerment is everything."

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Lauren: It means getting to know yourself. Loving and respecting your body, heart and mind. It means doing your best to let go of those female insecurities we all harbor. It means feeling genuinely happy for other women and celebrating their beauty, uniqueness and accomplishments without going to a jealous or competitive place. Don’t be a part of drama and gossip.

What’s on your career bucket list?

Lauren: I’ve always dreamt of writing a book. I would also love to continue speaking in other countries.  Molly and I took our Kind Campaign Founders Assemblies to the UK last year and I would love to see our programming continue to spread globally.

Molly: Honestly, in so many ways I feel like I've already exceeded what any bucket list could capture. Not to sound cheesy, but I really do feel so unbelievably lucky to be in the position I am and do what we do. We have always said, "If we can just impact one person, then it has all been worth it." And thanks to social media for making this world seem so small and allowing us to see Kind Campaign's impact, we have the opportunity to hear from that "one person" who has been impacted on a regular basis. So I guess my career bucket list would be to keep Kind Campaign's messaging current enough as time goes on to continue to have such a profound impact on people. And to meet Oprah.

Wellness: Annie Lawless

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Wellness List Here.

Writing her own rules.

Law school student turned creator. That’s the short version of Annie Lawless’ story, but the long-form version is a lot more interesting. 

While in law school in San Diego Annie started making juice out of her apartment kitchen. After feeling inspired by her local yoga community, and uninspired by her chosen career path, Annie and her co-founder would buy the produce at the local Whole Foods, juice it in her kitchen and then sell it door-to-door. Scrappy? Yes. Legal? Blurry. 

As her passion for the business grew, she dropped out of law school to focus FT on Suja. By the time she parted ways with the brand, it was worth about 300 million dollars. 

But just because she had seen success, didn’t mean she stopped looking for opportunity. She started her blog, Blawnde, as a side hobby to post wellness and lifestyle content while launching her organic juice company, Suja Juice. “As a child,” says Annie Lawless, “I lived with Celiac disease and became fascinated with nutrition, health, and wellness as a result of my revelation of the power of food.”

“After a few years of working full time on Suja, I decided to switch gears and focus on Blawnde. I am very inspired at this time in my life to create interesting, useful content and connect with my audience in a deeper way.”

She’s also used her law-school diversion as a way to connect with herself. “Don’t waste one minute, let alone 3 plus years of your life doing anything that makes you unhappy or doesn’t feel right,” says Annie. “Life is way too short, and forcing yourself to be or do something you’re not is a terrible way to spend your time on earth. Don’t worry so much about what you’re ‘supposed’ to be doing or what other people think of you, and do what you are really passionate about, happy, and fulfilled doing.” 

“Don’t waste one minute of your life doing anything that makes you unhappy.”

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She’s human and gets stuck from time to time. “There are definitely times I feel stuck and lacking in spirit. When this happens, it is so important for me to take a step back and do things for myself like yoga, a self care day, or travel to a new place to get my creativity and motivation flowing again.” 

Her positive spirit is not only encouraging, it’s proof that what you put out, is what you bring in. “Don't get stuck in the weeds,” says Annie. “Stay above drama, pettiness, and irrelevant negativity in life.”

For her empowerment means, “that I don't see a single thing that I can't do that that a man can because I am a woman. It means seeing the world as a completely level playing field open to anyone willing to get out and play.” 

“Stay above drama, pettiness, and irrelevant negativity in life.”

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For Annie that means writing another book, starting a family, and launching another brand within the next five years. “Can't has never been a word in my vocabulary,” she shares.

“Women have accomplished so much and we have made huge strides in the last 25 years. I would love for us to shift the conversation from what we can't do, to all that we have done and can do. If we cut the negative talk about the things that hold us back in this world, and push right through those and actively do, I think that would be a very positive environment for women all over the world.” 

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Content Creator: Sophia Rossi, HelloGiggles

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Content Creator List Here.   

Played nice on the Internet and won. 

Sophia is wearing Keds' Champion Originals.

Sophia Rossi wants to run her own farm. For now she’s CEO of the HelloGiggles fam. 

Despite the community she's fostered, Sophia didn’t get her start in "feel good" entertainment. “I started my career,” she says, “as a producer for The Hills, The City, and then Glee.”(One of those things, not quite like the others.) She began as an Associate Producer on the pilot of The Hills, and over the course of five years the content guru grew into the role of Executive Producer.   

“I think working in entertainment,” the LA native shares, “showed me how negative the climate could be for women on a large scale. So when I met Zooey [Deschanel and Sophia’s HelloGiggles co-founder] and we both wanted to create a positive space for women, I think we were both coming from the same place.”

It’s a place that prepared her for her new role. “As a producer,” Sophia explains, “you have to just make things happen. And when you start your own company, it’s that same energy of, OK, let’s figure it out.” 

Which they did. The company's first digs were Sophia's home, three blocks away from her parents in Beverly Hills. An empowerment den filled with positive vibes. In 2015, HelloGiggles was purchased by Time for a reported 20 million dollars. Sophia has stayed on; her role in creating safe spaces for women on the internet is invaluable. 

“The internet can get pretty dark," she says. "I think 2016 showed us just how bad things can get, so it’s important to me that we have a place where women can share their voice and connect with each other on the issues that matter the most to them. Our community is always growing, and I love knowing there will always be a place for women to come and share their empowerment and be entertained, too.”

"It’s important to me that we have a place where women can share their voice."

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Sophia is wearing Keds' Champion Originals.

"When you’re running a startup," Sophia says about the early days, "there’s a new challenge every day. It’s literally 24/7 of putting out fires and there’s that sort of high you get from from moving from one panic to the next. The biggest challenge is to not let that be the culture of your company." She knows things don’t always work out, but has learned “it’s never the catastrophe you thought it would be.” 

“When you’re building something, you don’t always know what it’s going to look like when it’s finished. But then you realize it's never quite finished. So staying authentic to myself and my original goals helps me make sure my career stays on track." 

For Sophia the challenge and opportunity is "more than just inspiring other women with words." The job of HelloGiggles is to give the community "tools to really make big changes in their lives. And hopefully that inspires them to go out and do the same for other women, too." 

When times turn tough, Sophia will turn to friends she counts as mentors, like fellow media boss Katherine Power (and fellow C&C 100 honoree), and friend Joyce Azria who one told Sophia, “'Always have clean hair.'" Advice that made a lot of sense to her

And she’s not joking about the farm part. 

“I’m working closely with chef Roy Choi (of Kogi Truck and Locol) and we’re seeing what we can build together," she reports. "He’s such a leader and a motivator and I’m so honored to learn from him and benefit from his positive energy. But in five years, my hope is that I’m finally drinking enough water and that I own a farm." She would like said farm to have chickens. 

“My favorite thing to do," Sophia says, "is create a space for humans to thrive.” From career goals to squad goals to squawk goals, it looks like success will come home to roost for this woman no matter what.  

Philanthropy: Lauren Miller Rogen, Hilarity for Charity

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Philanthropy List Here. 

Knows laughter is some damn good medicine. 

“Witnessing what happened to my mother destroyed almost all of my optimism. But that truly has changed because of Hilarity For Charity. I know and feel the good that is out there every single day.” So shares Lauren Miller Rogen, filmmaker and co-founder of Hilarity for Charity, a non-profit organization that works with the Alzheimer's Association to raise money for research and support groups, and to help families struggling to care for a person with Alzheimer's. It’s an organization near and dear to Lauren’s heart, having watched her mother, Adele, a teacher for 35 years, struggle through the debilitating effects of the disease. 

Born in Long Island, raised in Lakeland, Florida, Lauren says she was always into creative activities. Happiest when she was drawing, she acted in summer camp plays and wrote stories, eventually finding herself enraptured by fashion. But when she moved to New York to attend the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), she decided it was not the world for her. Acting was her passion. And after her dad convinced Lauren she needed a bachelor’s degree, she switched schools, graduating from the Film School at Florida State, a place she says she finally felt like herself. “I had found my people and what I was meant to do,” she shares. A few weeks post-gradation, Lauren and 15 of her fellows caravanned to Los Angeles. She’s called the City of Angels home ever since. In L.A. she worked as an assistant for three years, saving enough money to stop working, and pursue her dream of writing and acting full time. In 2011 she took For a Good Time, Call, a movie she co-wrote, produced, and starred in, to Sundance. Later that year she married actor Seth Rogen, after dating for over a decade. 

Her relationship with Seth, which she calls “the best thing that happened to her,” began soon after Lauren moved to LA. However, life happens in the midst of happiness. Shortly thereafter, at only 25, the creative’s mom and the "heroic woman" whom she credits with showing her “how important it is to have passion for what you do with your life," was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s (anyone under the age of 64). Adele was 55-years-old. Lauren explains that “losing my mom, slowly, right in front of my eyes to a disease like Alzheimer’s shaped who I was for a while.” She was depressed. "I was really dark five years ago. Much darker than I thought I could ever be," she shares. The pain dominated her thoughts. Until a friend suggested a fundraiser. She resisted at first, the usual protests in mind. The fear of the workload. And the fact that she knew “NOTHING about having a fundraiser,” didn’t abed those fears. She remembers riding to the first event thinking, “there’s just no way this is going to work.” But, it did.

Since its first Variety Show in 2011, Hilarity for Charity has raised over $6M. Lauren says, “From the creation of HFCU (our program for college students), to the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care Relief Grant Program (which has awarded over 120K hours of free at home care to those who need it the most), HFC has shown me that amazing things can come from the least expected places, and that doing what you can do is one of the best ways to help ourselves and the world around us.”

"Amazing things can come from the least expected places."

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And naturally, though HFC is heavily focused on millennials, Lauren wants to rally as many people as possible around the cause. Especially the eight-second attention span Gen Z crowd. “It’s estimated that close to 15 Million Americans will have Alzheimer’s in 2050. Gen Z’ers will be how old then?” she asks. "I think that a disease like Alzheimer’s won’t be stopped until EVERYONE is involved in the fight.”

These days, Lauren swears by cuddling with her dog, Zelda. As for whether comedy is the best medicine, Lauren says, “It certainly helps. It’s also really the only thing my husband and I know how to do, so I don’t think we would have been able to form HFC without it. But, I also believe that if the time is right, sometimes some things are just so sad and so awful that the only thing we can do it laugh.” She still counts herself as incredibly blessed, despite the struggle her mother's disease has presented. "I can’t say I’ve faced any challenges that were particularly worse than most people—I’ve had unfair teachers and bosses, friends who didn’t value me, jobs I didn’t get and really wanted. Pretty basic stuff. Really, I have been pretty lucky my entire life." She does add the her biggest hurdle has been the one that most people face: self. "Like many, I can be my own worst critic, and the voices of insecurity, anxiety, fear, jealousy can drive me to places that aren’t productive, helpful, or even kind."

“Sometimes things are so sad the only thing we can do is laugh.” 

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At present Lauren runs HFC, “with a great team of people,” writes, acts, and hopes to make “another feature in 2017 which I will direct.”  

The days of caravanning to LA may be distant, but there is an optimism engrained in Lauren that even her darkest days can’t takeaway. She thinks back to her third day on the job as an assistant. “I delivered some papers to my boss who was in the middle of an ADR session with Tom Hanks,” she says. Her boss introduced her to Hanks who said, “Nice to meet you Lauren. Don’t. Get. Jaded.” Simple, but sage advice that has stuck. Because when Lauren says “I am lucky to do this work with HFC and THAT is what keeps me going,” you know she means it with her whole heart. 

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

STEM: Latinas in STEM, Board of Directors

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full STEM List Here. 

Inspiring the next generation.

Jazlyn Carvajal, Diana Albarrán Chicas, Cecilia Fernández, Kimberly Gonzales, Joanna Gonzalez, Desiree Lassiter, Maribel Mendoza, and Nidia Trejo make up the Latinas in STEM Board of Directors, an organization founded by 5 MIT alumnae looking to formalize the service work they were doing in their respective communities. 

The founders of the organization are all first generation American women who have been the first in their families to attend college. They have careers in industry with a long track record of community service. The current board consists of professional Latina women who are interested in providing Latinas with mentorship, resources, and access to careers in STEM.

The stats around women in STEM aren’t great. And the barriers to entry for women of color are compounded. A lack of role models, lagging outreach, and overall limited parental awareness, leads to dismal numbers. So you’ve heard. 

But with organizations like Latinas in STEM, founded in 2013, there is hope. And not only on the horizon. 

Their goals include: inspiring young women to consider STEM careers, increasing the number of Latina women pursuing STEM careers, and creating a network that enables women in STEM to survive. Their programs include K-12 student and parent outreach, college student support, and professional development that enables their network to grow and reach more students. 

It’s vital work that serves the community and world. 

More from the Board of Directors below. 

What is the most important step you took to get here?

The most important step was starting a dialogue among friends about the need in our communities and our desires to help our communities in a more formal matter. It was a simple Facebook group message sent among friends that eventually led to the formal organization of Latinas in STEM. 

What are some challenges you’ve encountered along the way?

There have been many challenges for us as a group. To begin, the group is currently completely volunteer run, meaning that we all have day jobs as STEM professionals. As such, one of the challenges has been carving sufficient time to help our organization progress along the way. Luckily, we have had a lot of support from our networks and other organizations who have similar goals. 

What keeps you going?

Knowing that we can encourage Latinas whose shoes we were once in -- to do well in math and science subjects, get good grades to enter college, and follow a career path of their dreams. 

Who are the people you consider your mentors or influences and why? 

Our first mentors and influences for many of us were our families. We have all had various mentors throughout our careers including each other. 

What is the best piece of "real talk" advice you've received? 

Stay humble. Know that your career path and your goals may change over time, but stay true to yourself along the way. 

What is your favorite life advice?

One of the greatest things we can have as women is education. Our knowledge and opinions are valuable to share with the world to help make it better. 

Is there a time in your lives when you've thought, 'I can't do this anymore?'

We’ve all overcome a lot of adversity in our lives. We move forward and make opportunities by being proactive. 

What’s next? What are the five year goals?

Next, we plan to expand the organization, and hire full-time administrators to help us continue the work that we are doing. As we mentioned, currently we are 100% volunteer run, but we want to expand our work by reaching out to more people nationwide. We need more woman power, and so we hope to formalize the group even more. 

What is a habit or routine you swear by?

Share your big goals with others- it makes you accountable and also may open new doors. 

"Share your big goals with others- it makes you accountable."

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How have your relationships to your careers changed in the last five years?

Embracing the idea that mentoring the next generation of STEM experts outside of our individual, professional work is an important part of our career journeys. 

How have your personal relationships changed in the last five years? 

We encourage one another to embrace failures and share these stories with our Latina members. It’s important for our members to know about our successes as Latinas in STEM, and it is equally important to tell our stories of roadblocks and lessons learned. Although it can be difficult to think back on difficult situations, our stories can be what inspires our members to continue pursuing and thriving in STEM fields. 

What does female empowerment mean to you?

It means supporting and mentoring one another to achieve our goals. It means being critical of each other in a way that helps build other women up, and not tear them down. It means helping other women achieve their dreams. 

Entrepreneur: Justina Blakeney, The Jungalow

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Entrepreneur List Here. 

Welcome to her Jungalow. 

“Take a deep breath and listen, practice some restraint.” 

Those are the words of current breadwinner, new mom, and captain of a design business that’s rapidly expanding: Justina Blakeney, founder of The Jungalow. The interior design boss is the first to admit that “no one knows how it’s going to go," but handling uncertainty is a big part of entrepreneurship. "There are days when I feel like things aren’t balanced or chill, when I have to work a lot and travel,” but, she says, “I think it’s important to understand in what type of environment your thrive. I flourish in the multi-hustle world.”

Her environment is lush. Full of color, vibrant patterns and plants; it’s a design style that says no to minimalism. In a way, it’s a multi-hustle of its own. 

And with a New York Times bestseller, The New Bohemians (which, she wrote and shot in less than three months), a Sunset Magazine cover, a booming design business and blog, a tot at home, five employees at her office space, and plenty more in the works, Justina has reached a point where she gets her gig. “Having a lot going on at one time really suits my personality,” she notes. 

"I flourish in the multi-hustle world.”

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At the moment she has five people who work for her. They are all part time and she runs a single member LLC. “That’s all going to change next year,” she says, joking, “in part because I don’t want to break any labor laws.” It’s also because she knows she needs full time commitment from her employees. “I’m ready for my business to be at the forefront of my employees minds and I can’t expect that to be the case if it’s not their full time job.”

And it has become very full time.

Most Jungalow income still comes from social media and the blog, but the business is expanding rapidly. What exactly is in the works? “The Jungalow world takeover.” NBD. And it’s moving fast— a pace she is most comfortable with. “People need to be able to keep up,” she says, “and I have no patience for people who work slowly. Being able to be fast is how you can make money. You have to be quick.” At least in her business, where iteration is not the name of the game. 

Justina says, “I worked really hard to not be known as a blogger. I wanted to be known as a designer first.” The plan with the furniture line is to develop the wholesale side of the business first. That way, “by the time we get into a retail we’ll be a brand name.” She describes ecommerce as “an intimidating whole new universes.” Citing the customer service, sales tax, and returns. “But what I keep telling myself,” she explains, “is that it’s not hard, it’s just a lot. And the hardest part is making the leap.” Especially when you're conditioned to think business is a man's game. “There was this moment,” she explains, “where it became very clear to me that being good at business was not about being good at numbers, or understanding the Dow Industrial— that’s what I thought being ‘good a business’ meant.”

“As women,” she says, “we’re trained to think that business is not a woman’s game— it’s not left-brained. But being able to relate to people has proven to be a much bigger asset than I knew.”

Developing her brand meant make hard choices, like passing on 50k opportunities because they “didn’t make sense,” both aesthetically and in her gut. She’s driven by authenticity, while also understanding that “businesses are machines that are created for profit. You can’t depend on someone else for your well-being. It’s something I always have in the back of my mind— to make sure I have my own back.” 

We circle back to the election. “Trump won because he was bold and didn’t care what people think. It was a messaging nightmare. But as much as Trump is deplorable, he’s authentic; he’s an authentic dickhead.”

The Bernie supporter is considerably angry about the country's new POTUS but her support for other women and women of color is unwavering. “Female empowerment is about having your own back and having the back of your sisters,” she insists. “It’s so hard for me to watch women not supporting other women and men not supporting women. As a woman of color and as a woman, it’s painful for me to see. It’s so easy to be catty and jealous, but it’s so counter-productive. It’s so much easier to be supportive.” 

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Philanthropy: Alliance of Moms

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Philanthropy List Here. 

Creating an army of moms. 

“The Alliance of Moms' mission is to break the intergenerational cycle of babes born to teens in foster care and in my family my brother and I are the breaking of that cycle,” shares Jules Leyser, co-president of the non-profit. Her own mother grew up in residential foster care in the UK and was long-term fostered by the woman Jules knew as grandma. 

“My mum experienced an incredible amount of abuse and trauma throughout her childhood,” the activist explains. She had her first child, Jules’ brother at 17 and gave birth to Jules two years later. “In many ways she got lucky,” she says,“because my dad was a teacher and showed her a whole different world with opportunities she otherwise wouldn't have known.”

Jules, now 44, hasn’t strayed too far from her beginnings. She broke the cycle of teen pregnancy, giving birth to her first child at 39. And as co-president of The Alliance of Moms, an organization founded with Yasmine Delawari Johnson, who began working with kids in the foster care system when pregnant with her now 7 year old, her day-to-day is spent helping young moms and kids in foster care. 

Almost seven years ago, while pregnant with her son, Yasmine started volunteering at the Alliance for Children’s Rights. Later, when pregnant with her daughter, Malala, she joined their Board. Looking to do more, the “dear friends,” hosted a fundraiser in Yasmine’s backyard to support pregnant and parenting teens in foster care. But they knew they could be more hands-on. From those backyard conversations and volunteered hours, The Alliance of Moms was born. It is a membership-based auxiliary of the Alliance for Children’s Rights. 

Two years ago they were a group of five moms. Today, they have 500 members and are growing. 

Yasmine admits that the last two years have been some of her most fulfilling, but equally difficult. Coming from a place of integrity and intention has helped the co-presidents through. But that meant they really had to hone in on their mission. Around the 6 month mark they took a few days to nail it down. “As a start-up nonprofit,” says Jules, “we simply couldn't do everything and we were getting generous offers for things like doing hair for our girls and makeovers, but we knew that wasn’t what were were giving up time away from our own families to do.” Education with a focus on early brain development became an integral piece of the Alliance. With 80% of the brain developed by age 3, Yasmine and Jules knew that “if our girls' babies could start pre-school on track with other kids then they had a better chance of doing well and not falling behind and therefore they would hopefully avoid becoming teen parents themselves.” 

The full time volunteers recognize the challenges. “It is easy,” says Yasmine, “to be completely caught in the wheel of day-to-day demands of the business part of our organization and feel like you don't have time to pause. But like anything in life, you must make that time. It is in that space that you can grow with authenticity, grace and clarity.”

It’s with the aforementioned grace that Yasmine and Jules are dedicated to the commonalities, not differences, amongst mothers. “Luck and geography can make our lives seem very different, and in some ways our lives may be very different, but we all want our kids to feel safe. We want them to be healthy and educated. We want them to have opportunities and know their value. Many of our young mothers in foster care have come from such traumatic histories that they may have never experienced any of these things themselves, but if you ask them what they want for their kids, their answers are the same,” says Yasmine. 

“Luck and geography can make our lives seem very different, but we all want our kids to feel safe."

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“We aren't social workers or any authority figure who has power over them and their babies. We are just moms who know how challenging parenting can be even in the best of circumstances,” says Jules.“They've been let down and often abandoned many times in their lives so it’s important that our community of moms consistently wraps our arms around them.”

At the time we talk, the pair is in “deep strategic planning” about what comes next. They want to deepen their relationships with teen moms, well aware that in order to have the kind of impact they want they have to focus beyond how many girls they can reach, but “how often we can reach the same girls.” They also want to expand outside of Los Angeles within the next five years. 

As full time volunteers, the realities of dedicating their day-to-day to a cause can be exhausting. And to do so with "grace," Yasmine shares is probably the hardest, but most important part. But the mom of two  insists that you do the work, especially when you don’t feel like doing it. “In my mind, I am still the high school student cramming for the test, and yet nothing in my life today actually reflects that. It's funny how we hold onto these ideas about ourselves. I rarely feel like doing the hard work, but I just sit down and do it.” 

Adding, “I am in a very fortunate position where I do not need to work to help support our family. I work because it is important for me to model for my children a mother who is dedicated and passionate, and I work to try to do my part in our world. I don't look at my work as a career path as much as a life path. In that sense, I don't ever see myself not working. There will always be ways to engage and give back.”

Quitting is not an option for either. "Understandably there is a self-esteem epidemic amongst our teen moms and although it is hard to quantify," says Jules, "I believe that our alliance makes the girls feel seen and important in ways that are not typical in their everyday lives."

Together, they’ve launched a parenting movement with the hopes of shattering every current  statistic about teen moms, their babies, and foster care.

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Philanthropy: Caitlin Crosby, The Giving Keys

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Philanthropy List Here. 

Keyed into something good.

Like so many great love stories, it all started in a New York City hotel room. While on tour, actress/songwriter Caitlin Crosby decided to wear her room key as a necklace. Then, had the bright idea to engrave these beautiful old keys with inspirational words. It wasn’t until Caitlin met Rob and Cera, a young couple living on the streets of Los Angeles, and invited them to join her for dinner, that the concept for The Giving Keys truly took shape. Over dinner, she asked them to become her business partners and the pair went to work making keys the very next day. Fast forward a few years and Rob and Cera are still together, gainfully employed and living in San Diego (Rob works at the San Diego Zoo!). The Giving Keys is changing lives through providing jobs and second chances to deserving individuals affected by homelessness.

Now that you know about her company, it’s time to meet the multifaceted woman behind it. Crosby grew up acting and began writing songs about her experiences and struggles behind the scenes. Her first album, Flawz and its accompanying website LoveYourFlaws.com, tackles self-love in the face of body image issues. From there, she began touring, selling creative merchandise, and sharing women’s stories. Out of this ultimate desire to uplift, The Giving Keys was born.

“Being aware of all the needs in this world, I’m always trying to always think of creative ways to combat them,” shares the 34-year-old philanthropist and founder, who is an avid boxer and passionate body positivity advocate in her down-time. “I always wanted to write songs about issues that people were going through to hopefully encourage them. All of those observations, and trying to strategically create a product and movement that would heal people,” she say, have helped her arrive here.

Today, The Giving Keys is sold in more than 1,200 stores, including Nordstrom and Fred Segal, and has created more than 54 jobs for at-risk individuals. “Seeing our employees who once experienced homelessness flourish within the company and hearing the many stories about people's lives being impacted and changed,” is what keeps Crosby going. ‘We aren't in this to just make money and be fashionable. We exist to change people's lives.”

"We aren't in this to make money. We exist to change people's lives."

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So, now that Crosby has checked collaborating with Oprah off her bucket list (NBD!), will she finally kick her feet up and just chill? Far from it. In addition to expanding The Giving Keys into a full fashion, lifestyle, and apparel brand, she’s also got plans for a mission-based music album, getting back into acting, and two more babies (Oh yea, she just had her first kid amidst all of this massive growth.)

“The ultimate goal is to get as many people off the streets by creating more jobs for individuals trying to transition out of homelessness,” she says. So what’s her best advice for staying grounded and sane? “Be kind to yourself. You are unique for a divine purpose. There's no one else who can do what you do. Embrace all your 'quirks' & so called 'imperfections.' Change your perspective and know that those things make you 'you.' And that's a beautiful thing."

Entertainment: Franchesca Ramsey

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Entertainment List Here.

Morally resolute, intersectional feminist. 

Franchesca Ramsey had been making her own hilarious YouTube videos, a mixture of song parodies, impersonations, and socially conscious comedy sketches, since 2006, but it wasn’t until she made “Shit White Girls Say…To Black Girls” and went viral, racking up 1.5 million views in just 24 hours, that Ramsey was really put on the map. The video has 11 million views to date, and it gave Ramsey the confidence to pursue entertainment full time. “Quitting my day job took a huge leap of faith, but I knew I wouldn't be able to pursue the opportunities I was most interested in with a 9-5.” We’re all better off for it, as since then the actress, video blogger, and writer has quickly become of the most exciting voices, in both comedy and social activism, of our time.

Ramsey spent time as a writer and contributor to "The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore," where her recurring segment #HashItOut was a stand out part of the show, and in 2015 landed her current gig as the host of "Decoded," an MTV News web series that speaks to issues of race and culture. She also still creates original content on YouTube, both for her comedy channel Chescaleigh and her lifestyle channel Chescalocs, which focuses more on beauty, natural hair care, and styling (the two channels have over 250k subscribers and 29 million views combined), and does speaking engagements at colleges, inspiring and educating (and cracking up) students around the country with her incisive wit and cutting intellect. In short, she’s killing it. But ‘twas not always so. In fact, just a few short years ago, Ramsey was considering giving up on entertainment altogether. “In 2014 my videos weren't doing very well and I had a hard time booking auditions, so I seriously considered abandoning entertainment and leaving NY,” she recalls. “Instead, I got a remote job writing for Upworthy and used that to supplement the few acting jobs I was able to pick up until things started to take off.”

Even now, as accomplished as she is, Ramsey still encounters more than her fair share of challenging moments. “Being a woman of color on the Internet is challenging, let alone being one that openly talks about racism and feminism. I deal with an intense amount of harassment, which at times can be discouraging, but is also a reminder of why these conversations are so important,” she says of the trolls who follow her every move. Ramsey credits her husband, her parents, and her audience for keeping her going when things get rocky. “I'm really fortunate to have people around the world that enjoy my content and continuously reach out to let me know that it's making an impact on their lives,” she says of her devoted fans. A self-described “gym rat,” Ramsey also works out five days a week at 7 am. “It’s when I really let go of everything and just focus on accomplishing whatever my trainer puts in front of me,” she says of her routine.

"Being a woman of color on the Internet is challenging."

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Aside from her family and fans, Ramsey raves about her friend and mentor, Tracee Ellis Ross, as an ongoing source of influence and inspiration. “I'm incredibly inspired by her talent, work ethic and humility. She's given me tons of great advice over the years and most recently I got the chance to write for her when she hosted Black Girls Rock for BET,” Ramsey says of Ross, whom she met a few years ago through her YouTube channel. “She's incredibly gracious and a firm believer in supporting and uplifting other women which, is something I think is incredibly important.”

Another thing Ramsey (and we) think is incredibly important? Activism, and specifically, a commitment to intersectional feminism. “It's important to acknowledge our privilege and remember that there are all types of women from a variety of walks of life that face challenges that we do not,” Ramsey says. “If you're truly committed to advocating for women you have to be willing to stand up for all women regardless of race, sexuality, physical ability, religion, class or gender identity, not just ladies that look like you.” For her part, Ramsey is already making a big difference in the steering the current cultural conversation. As for her personal goals? “One day I'd like to be in a position to break and foster new talent,” she says. We have zero doubt that will happen, and probably much sooner than she thinks.

Beauty: Kristin Ess

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with Dove, you can view the full Beauty List Here. 

The hair whisperer. 

Kristin Ess has been doing hair for more than half of her life. Since she was 15, the hairstylist whose roster includes fellow C&C nominee Lauren Conrad, Lucy Hale, and Halle Berry, has said “yes to anything and everything” that came her way. The stylist and her trademark vibrant redhead has done the salon thing, the editorial jobs, the freelance route, as well as assisting hairdressers she admired for free “a lot.” In 2011 she launched The Beauty Department, aimed at bridging the divide between the glam squad and the every-girl, work she has continued as founder of Kristin Ess Hair. 

Taking on the role of founder it’s only natural that her workload has gotten “more intense,” as there is now “more to see, more to create,” as well as “more to dream up.” But don’t expect her to start slacking as a result. With a new Target collab, she's only getting started.  

“I try to be as original as possible,” says the mane guru. “I don't go on Pinterest and just copy whatever pretty visuals I see. I don't creep other hairdressers and copy what they do. I do my research and try to bring something inspiring to the table.”

Despite her superhuman hair prowess and boss ass hair flips (see: above photo), the mane goddess is mortal. A month ago (over the holidays) Kristin says she was walking about her house crying, wondering if she would ever sleep again. Between The Beauty Department relaunch, Kristin Ess Hair coming out, the steady stream of content creator, travel, and being down two assistants, she had averaged between three to four hours a night for four days. “I actually googled, ‘Can you die from exhaustion?’” 

She didn’t. 

The hairstylist doesn’t set goals, something she says may be “a big no no according to some, but so far it’s worked for me.” She also doesn’t have habits or routine. “The one and only habit I have is brushing my teeth.” 

As for her relationship to herself and career she’s keeping it real. “I think I've started to judge myself a little bit more in the last five years,” Kristin openly shares, “which I never did before. I thought I would have launched my line sooner, I thought I would have traveled more, I thought I would have lost weight, I thought I'd be more organized, I thought I would have a bigger team. I never would have thought those things about myself 10 years ago. But you get into your 30s and you start being a little harder on yourself. I catch myself in the moment, almost every time. I stop, mentally step back and look at what I am/do/have experienced and I remember I'm doing fucking great.” 

When her clients feel good, she feels good. And her number one takeaway for them when they leave her chair is that “That they've been heard. That I get what they want and that I can deliver on what they've asked for.” It’s simple, but powerful and is in harmony with what she sees as one of the next big trends in beauty. “We're breaking down the walls of overpriced beauty!” she exclaims.  

In an industry not known for being soft, rather one that Kristin says “can be very competitive and sometimes nasty,” she’s focused on a positive future. Encouraging “women, both friends and people I haven't met, via social media and throwing down all the YAS KWEENS I can. We’re all in this together and no one woman is better than the rest.” 

While it may seem that the follicular feminist's career is on fire ('cause it is), Kristin remembers a past and “very wise” client who told her, "You never want to be on fire. Fires burn out. You always want to be smoking." 

"You never want to be on fire. Fires burn out. You always want to be smoking." 

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Sound advice that has stayed with her. “I’ve never desired to be the most famous hairstylist on earth. I never needed to have every single celebrity in my chair. I just want to do my job really well for a long time, and hopefully people will love it whether they're famous or not.”

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

STEM: Claire Burke, Goby

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full STEM List Here.

Giving a dental damn.

Brush up for a minute on Claire Burke, co-founder of Goby’s career trajectory. After graduating from NYU’s Stern School of Business with a dual BS in Finance and Accounting, she worked at investment bank Lincoln International for six years. Simultaneously, she pursued her personal passion for film and media by co-founding a production company. In 2013, Claire left investment banking to pursue an MBA at Columbia Business School. While at Columbia, she immersed myself in media and technology, working for The Raine Group, Hearst, theSkimm, and Female Founders Fund, each of which expanded her interest in startups and exposed her to the value and power of brand.

Take a breather. 

Deemed “Cavity Claire” by her family growing up, Claire was inspired by her own struggles with good oral care. Determined to enhance consumers’ oral care experience by creating a value-driven oral care product with a relatable brand personality, Cavity Claire (and co-founder Ben) got to work, hoping to change the experience of oral health care. 

And now, the founders current largest challenges include filling roles at her company, not in her mouth.

More from Claire below. 

What is the best piece of "real talk" advice you've received? 

A close friend recently bought me the book "You are a Badass." The gift, and the advice, was self-explanatory. Reading it has transformed the way I look at myself and interact with the world.

What is your favorite life advice?

“Who you hang out with determines what you dream about and what you collide with. And the collisions and the dreams lead to your changes. And the changes are what you become. Change the outcome by changing your circle.” -- Seth Godin

Is there a time in your life when you thought, ‘I can’t do this?’

I tend not to think this way. I try to breathe through any challenge, see the bigger picture, and move forward.

What’s next?

Continuing to build Goby into a lasting brand. 

What’s a habit or routine you swear by?

Daily mantras. You control your thoughts and your mood, and mantras help to ensure you're in the right mind-state throughout the day.

International Women’s Day is coming up. It's a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. If you could steer the conversation around International Women’s Day, what would that dialogue be about?

The first step in removing disparity, is recognizing that the disparity exists. Encouraging men to participate in the conversation and admit that there is inequity is a goal of mine on IWD.

How has your relationship to you career changed in the last five years?

In the past five years I decided to pursue what I was passionate about, even if it came with significant sacrifice in the near-term, as opposed to pursuing what provided short-term benefit but wasn't fulfilling.

How has your relationship to yourself changed in the last five years?

Significantly! I think positively, support myself and don't fret the small stuff. I definitely used to beat myself up a lot, and I've stopped doing that in the last five years.

What does female empowerment mean to you?

"Feminism is the radical notion that women are people." Female empowerment to me means that women are able to lead self-actualized lives, regardless of the life they choose to live, and regardless of the fact that they are women.

Wellness: Melisse Gelula & Alexia Brue, Well + Good

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Wellness List Here.

Your healthiest relationship. 

In 2009 when Melisse Gelula and Alexia Brue launched Well+Good as a digital media company devoted to the wellness scene, it was a relatively new, untapped market. Cold-pressed juice fave Pressed didn’t yet exist. No one knew what Kale was. And forget lifestyle brand, Goop’s newsletter was in its infancy stage, only having commenced a few months prior. 

Like many successful entrepreneurs, Melisse and Alexia saw the train coming and accordingly laid the tracks. Everyone jumped on board. 

Both women, who serve Well + Good as co-founders, did not begin their careers new business ventures, but in book publishing. Alexia at Random House as an editor who then wrote her own book, Cathedrals of the Flesh, about global bathing traditions, and Melisse who had over ten years in book and magazine publishing. 

It wasn’t until years later when the duo met while working for Luxury SpaFinder, did the buds of the site begin to bloom. As the journalists became increasingly switched on to healthy living, the potential opportunity quickly became clear as quartz. There was a swelling, underreported wellness scene. SoulCycle, Blue Print Cleanse, even Lululemon, were all young businesses. “We knew they were going to become huge and a major part of people’s lives,” says Alexia, who also serves as brand CEO. 

They started typing on a WordPress blog, reporting on fitness, lifestyle and wellness trends in New York, becoming the nexus between journalistic reporting and wellness. Word spread. 

Over the last eight years, frustrations have included the challenge of growing organically. Taking on zero investors was a tough mutual decision, but it has also been one of their greatest boons. Not beholden to investor dollars means the co-founders have steered the company as they’ve wanted, growing at an affordable pace. Alexia says, “The right path for us was to grow out of cash flow. It instilled a lot of discipline.” 

“The right path for us was to grow out of cash flow.” 

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From that disciple, elements of their business and life fell into place. 

Melisse doesn’t name her mentors on record but impresses upon the importance of such figures in her life. The Chief Content Officer shares, “I think everyone needs a few people rooting for them and helping them sort through gut instincts, decisions, headaches.” Her business partner, who credits one of the smartest moves she’s ever made as “finding a great collaborator in Melisse,” thanks to her father, an entrepreneur who got the former editor thinking about business from a young age. “He’s always encouraged me to take risks,” she says.

On days when the fire burns low, Melisse swears by the “small habit” of lemon water, and the “big habit” of meditating or working out every day. “Sometimes,” says Melisse, “your own steam doesn't feel like enough!” But as entrepreneurs, biz life tends to run all over the road and they’ve accepted that part as a given. “I’ve been hardwired, through challenges in my life, to push past it over and over and over again,” shares Melisse. “I love the purpose of Well+Good and the people in the wellness industry,” she explains. “I've definitely found my alignment with the universe in this role.”

They believed that they had to do it. Went for it. Now Goop herself, Gwyneth Paltrow, has praised the site as a go-to.

Food: Kerry Diamond & Claudia Wu

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Food List Here.

Bombe squad up. 

Check out this Cherry Bombe, the food publication from founders Claudia Wu and Kerry Diamond. Named the food magazine “for the coolest woman in your life,” the biannual has featured women like kitchen mom boss Chrissy Teigen and supermodel/cookie monster Karlie Kloss who appeared on the matte first cover. 

The most recent Issue 8 features Padma Lakshmi on its cover. Culinary to its core, the magazine is predominantly female-led, an intentional decision from the founders who met while working together at Harper’s Bazaar.  

Kerry has said that after opening a restaurant in Brooklyn, it became apparent to her that there were so many amazing women in food who weren’t getting equally amazing attention from the media. “It's the same in almost every field (with a few exceptions),” shares Claudia. “Men dominate—but perhaps food is a good place to start to demand equality.”

The mag began as a project for one of Kerry’s restaurants, where instead of releasing a cookbook she thought of doing an annual magazine. 

Claudia, who serves as Cherry Bombe’s Creative Director, founded and self-published her own indie magazine, "Me" in 2004. She also started her own creative agency called Orphan (“RIP,” she says) in 2007. By the time the idea for Cherry Bombe was marinating, the women seemed a perfect pairing. 

In the beginning the co-founders never discussed an online version; both remain enraptured by print. They do host Radio Cherry Bombe, a podcast with Heritage Radio Network, which fills the air time between publication dates. 

 “If you do something that gives you purpose, it's not really ‘work,' is it?”

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Kerry and Claudia are also focused on bringing conversations from the page to the stage. Last April they hosted their third annual Cherry Bombe Jubilee in New York. A gathering of hundreds professional women (plus a few great men) from all ends of the culinary and hospitality worlds, which culminated in a keynote conversation between Martha Stewart and Kerry. “It's a place to connect, to start conversations, and to inspire people to do what they love,” says Claudia. 

For her, the kitchen remains a special place. “I definitely think in the culture I was brought up in, the kitchen was a magical place where good things came from, and my mother was the center of it in our house. I ate a homemade meal pretty much every night.” Her parents, both immigrants, sacrificed plenty to give their children a better life. “They work harder than anyone I know,” the creative director shares. “They built their business from nothing.” Her favorite advice also happens to come from her mother. “My mother once told me that I shouldn't work, that I should focus on learning and school, because I would have to work the rest of my life. She was right.”

But Claudia, who hopes to someday learn to sail, wants to travel more, and is no longer money motivated by projects says, “If you do something that gives you purpose, it's not really ‘work,' is it?” 

Sounds like a very healthy recipe for success. 

STEM: Ana Kasparian, The Young Turks

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full STEM List Here.

Giving fake news a middle finger. 

“I taught myself what I could just so I could stay,” says Ana Kasparian host and co-producer of The Young Turks, the largest online news network in the world. 

As a major political voice and specifically one trusted by young people, Ana knows that honesty is crucial during the current political climate. “You don’t see a lot of that in mainstream media,” she says, “and it gets me in trouble. But it also empowers women to share in an outspoken and aggressive way.”  

Aggressive is not a tone she shies away from. “I think a lot of people are uncomfortable with the paradigm shift. Women are more educated than men, they’re more ambitious, and there is a new type of competition for men for the types of jobs they’re used to getting. Hearing someone like me? I think it’s intimidating.” 

"Women are more educated than men and they’re more ambitious."

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What else would you expect from the little girl who would cuddle up with her mom on Friday night to watch Barbara Walters interview world leaders and public figures on ABC’s 20/20. After finishing her undergraduate degree in journalism, the go-getter immediately landed a job as an associate producer at CBS radio. However, after about six months into the job she knew it wasn’t for her. “The type of journalism produced in that newsroom,” says Ana, “didn’t make me feel like it was was making a difference or doing enough to inform listeners.” 

At the same time there was a temp position open at The Young Turks, which, was a “tiny little startup at the time.” From day one Ana says she knew it was where she needed to be. “It was unscripted, uncensored, and raw! The honesty that reverberated through the halls during every broadcast drew me in so intensely that I didn’t want to leave when my temp position was over.” She asked to stay. There wasn’t a position available that spoke to her skills, so she took a job in the marketing department and did everything she could to remain a part of the organization.  

Ten years later, as producer and co-host Ana is now an integral part of the show’s success. 

She thinks the mainstream media made a lot of mistakes the past election cycle. “They love the drama,” Ana shares. “The biggest mistake was not taking him [Trump] seriously from the beginning. He’s ignorant, not necessarily stupid. And he’s great at manipulation.” 

She also thinks Hillary’s calculated actions had little chance in the face of Trump’s “word vomit,” because of Hillary's next level misogyny conundrum. If she had behaved like Trump, it never would have worked.  But Ana recognizes the importance of her career, presidential win or not. "She has paved the way for women like me to be aggressive,” the host shares. Ana hopes that post-run she “comes out in a way she never has,” especially for the younger generations who are “drawn to authentic.” 

Despite experiencing violent threats, Ana won't be silenced. "I do what I think is right to get the message across to the viewers. We have to not be afraid. We have to fight back against that type [misogynist] rhetoric." 

“There are individuals who threaten my life on a daily basis. In fact, 2016 was the first year where I actually encountered a few in-person physical attacks. But I see these threats as an effort to silence me, and women have been silenced for so long. I'll be damned if I allow anyone to silence me and stop me from doing what I love to do.”

And she’s learned to love herself, even when the world is telling her she’s a “terrible person.” 

“My career has become a big part of my identity. It represents who I am and what my purpose is. Part of that purpose is remaining true to that voice, particularly in the face of a Trump presidency. “I’ll be just as opinionated and committed to getting accurate information out there. I see my privilege to look out for the disenfranchised and people who are going to suffer under his presidency. I think it’s important to spread a message about what it means to be an America. True patriotism is looking out for your neighbor.” 

"True patriotism is looking out for your neighbor.” 

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Her other goal is to get money out of politics. “With a vanishing middle class, you’re going to have hunger games. We’re attacking each other for stupid shit instead of attacking the system.”

Female empowerment means choosing your own destiny. It doesn't matter what you want to do, or how you want to do it. Being empowered allows you to make the right decisions for your life, regardless of what others expect of you."

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Wellness: The Flex Company

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Wellness List Here.

Writing a new vagina dialogue. 

Erika and Lauren are wearing Keds' Triple Metallic and Champion Originals.

"Women. We need each other. We have to support one another. We have a higher purpose."

FLEX Company, a socially driven startup focussed on helping women, loves talking periods and sex. Individually both still taboos subjects. Put them together and you have most of the reasons why #paulryansoscared. 

But the new menstrual product designed for 12 hours of period protection and mess-free period sex isn’t letting "unacceptable" get in their way. In fact, It's a conversation that cofounder and head of marketing, Erika Jensen has been having for years. 

After dropping out of college, Erika began working as a copywriter for a women’s clothing brand. During that job the sex-positive powerhouse got poached by a CEO of a vibrator company to run their e-commerce. “After a really awkward interview at the W Hotel in Hollywood,” she shares. “I decided to go for it. I learned a lot about myself and found a new passion in sexual health and wellness.”

Then came a call from a friend who told Erika about Lauren Schulte, a girl who was doing “this other vagina thing.” The two met for dinner in San Francisco and discussed the lack of innovation in the feminine care space. “I was admittedly in love with her,” says Erika, “but not the idea." It was only after Lauren gave Erika a sample of FLEX did she come to understand the product potential. After giving it a test run during a a day of board meetings, and experience Erika says was "a game-changer," she changed her mind. There was no cramping. No getting up to change her tampon. “I honestly forgot it was there,” the co-founder shares. The only problem? Lauren had only given her one sample. The next day she went back to using a tampon, an experience she says that felt like “razorblades.” Erika quit her job the following day.

For her part, Lauren isn’t a woman who was simply doing a “vagina thing.” She’s been coding websites since the age of 12 from her small hometown of Sugar Hill, Georgia. “I didn't think the boys should have all the fun, so I tried my hand and found I was good at it,” Lauren says. And she didn’t stop there. As the eldest of five children, money was tight. “At 15, I started freelance web development in earnest. At 19, I used my coding skills to land a full-time job at IBM. After 2 years, I wanted to get into consumer marketing, so I joined Coca-Cola.” During that time, “and what most people didn’t realize,” she says is that she was attending college full-time at night. She was sick a lot during this time, stressed out, working a full day and attending school from 4:30-10:30 pm. She also says, “People weren't really sure what to make of me. I was smart but horrible at politics. My bosses would tell me I had a bad poker face.’" It was also daunting for her to be a young woman in a corporate environment, but they were ultimately environments that came to shape who she is as a business woman. “Thankfully, at every job I found women who served as role models and confidants,” she says. 

She went on to work for Autodesk in San Francisco, where she learned about product design and manufacturing, but Lauren had another little work secret. Tampons were making her “miserable at work” and giving her infections. “I was really scared but eventually I was losing sleep over the fact that tampons hadn't been innovated in 80 years. After 1.5 years of research, I got the guts to quit my job to work on my product full-time.”

"I started FLEX with a mission to create positive, engaging conversations about women’s health," Lauren explains. 

Erika and Lauren are wearing Keds' Triple Metallic and Champion Originals.

One of FLEX’s messages is that you can have mess-free sex. (And it’s probably why 25% of the companies signups are from men.) But changing the stigma around sex and periods wasn’t always part of the messaging. When the co-founders started giving out samples to different cohorts of women with different messaging, they were “surprised to see that the mess-free period sex messaging was what go women to try it the fastest.”

"If we genuinely want to see menstruation become less taboo, it's critical to have men as allies."

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It was no longer only about using FLEX instead of tampons, "it was solving a new problem entirely - one that no one else was addressing,” shares Erika. FLEX has conducted studies that show that the product allows couples to increase their opportunity to hear sex by 23 percent. 

"Erika and I are sex positive,” extols Lauren, “and we want to give men and women more options: FLEX allows couples who wouldn't have previously had period sex a new opportunity to talk about it and try it.”

They are also committed to opening up the conversation to include men. “Most Americans learn about periods in school (if we're lucky enough to have sex ed, which many states don't). Boys and girls are separated, and boys don't learn much about periods. Girls are told to keep their period private and to hide their tampons. This dynamic immediately makes the topic taboo.” 

But taboo didn't tabulate for her and Lauren says that early on a male investor told her, “don’t be afraid to tell everyone you meet about your idea.” While talking about periods in Silicon Valley initially felt “a little awkward,” she says this is some of the best advice she’s received, specifically because of FLEX’s desire to de-stigmatize the period convo. 

“If we genuinely want to see menstruation become less taboo, it will be critical to have men as our allies,” the CEO explains. Noting that, “Period sex in many ways can be a gateway to creating conversations about menstruation between the sexes... especially for the men who are more uncomfortable talking about tampons or menstruation.”

For her part Erika has three goals: "change the way sexual education is taught in all American schools, get my glider pilot's license, see the day where menstrual discs are more widely used than tampons in the United States."

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.

Entertainment: Erin and Sara Foster

This article is part of our Create & Cultivate 100 List created in collaboration with KEDS, you can view the full Entertainment List Here.

Raising a little Hell in the city that raised them.

Erin is wearing Keds' Champion Originals.

Erin Foster, sister to Sara, daughter of David, says that as a kid “everything felt hard.” She didn't do well in school, hoping that a teacher would like her or a coach would think she was talented. “Being a smart ass became a way to distract everyone,” the producer, writer, and star of VH1's Barely Famous shares. “It wasn't until much later in my life that I realized it could be an asset instead of a part of my personality that I used to deflect.” Sara’s journey to professionally funny echoes her younger sister's. “Whether it's not having the self confidence or not knowing when and how to begin it always seemed like a dream and less of a realistic goal," she says of producing and acting in their own show. "I think feeling confident with my ideas and speaking up in a room filled with people far more experienced was the biggest challenge. Don't get me wrong, I always speak up, BUT it was a challenge developing the confidence as a comedic actress and producer at the same time.” 

As most know theirs was not a childhood set on a stage of American normality. Growing up in what Erin calls “a big disjointed family,” there were ups and downs, a father who got "remarried every ten years," and who warned his girls that all men cheat. (They didn’t listen.) But where tradition sagged, the sisters were propped up by a unique kind of tough love. Erin recalls in 5th grade trying her hand at her father’s skill: the piano. “I didn't enjoy piano,” she says, “but I thought there might be a musical genius lurking inside of me.” At her first recital her dad walked up to her and said, “You don't have it. You can quit. Go do something you love." 

“I know it sounds harsh,” the comedian shares, “but what he was saying is ‘Don't do my thing, go find your own thing.’ It was actually really freeing because I let go of trying to impress him and instead went to find the thing I loved. I'm so grateful for that.” 

And he taught them to take opportunities seriously. “He's always told me that the microphone usually only comes around once,” says Sara. That she should “be the first one there and the last one to leave,” because there is also someone right behind you waiting to take your place.  Advice she didn’t always take. “I have gotten caught up in the whole ‘she's not that talented, why did she get that role’ kind of thing and it's not good territory to be in. There is room for all of us,” she says, noting that jealousy is a dangerous emotion that most often does more harm than good. 

It wasn’t only dad who brought the advice thunder. Mom dropped a few whoppers as well. “You don't want to peak at 15, you want to peak at 30,” she told Erin. If you look at her career, it’s advice she took to heart. “Battling the voice in your head that thinks you aren't capable can be crippling,” says the writer, who is currently developing a comedy with Fox about a young woman with a messy personal life and a gay fiancé. “It really is never too late to do what you want to do. I didn't start professionally writing until I was almost thirty years old.”

"I didn't start professionally writing until I was almost thirty years old.”

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If you’re looking for a dramatic blowup, a bitter sibling rivalry is not in the cards, no matter how much they rib. The co-stars, who are hoping for an “edgier, smarter, and more epic season three,” have each other’s backs. “It's great to be able to know that I have someone who wants me to be the best and she has someone who wants her to be the best,” shares Sara. “She is behind the monitor for all my scenes and vice versa.” They’ll fight. They’ll make up. Sometimes it makes the working environment tough. “A sibling is your harshest critic, and your biggest champion,” explains Erin. “But there's no one who will protect you more fiercely or be more proud of your achievements,” she confirms. “We make each other better and are constantly holding a mirror up to each other so that we have to be our best.” Sara even willfully admits, “Erin has always been the funny one. I'm sure I have stolen and emulated a lot of her natural comedic ability. It has always come more naturally to her.”

With Barely Famous the siblings have made a name for themselves poking fun of the reality TV show bear, but they don’t think it’s going anywhere any time soon. “I would be personally devastated to not have my weekly Whalburgers,” says Sara, who reads almost all of her news on Twitter. It’s everything in one place, which, for a mom of two, is ideal. 

Looking to the future, they’re both aiming high. Sara's wish list includes “a line in a Judd Apatow movie,” and to “be Larry David’s next wife on Curb.” She also interested in developing projects with someone with whom she doesn’t share DNA. Erin wants to continue her work in comedy as one of the most original female voices in space interested in creating “a comedic tone that women can incorporate into their own lives." As for how she develops that voice? "I try to say, ‘Look how hot and imperfect I am,’” she says. “It's strange because women are more powerful than ever right now, but simultaneously some of us are pushing this unattainable perfection online and I think it's really destructive.”

It’s not simply an onstage persona for the younger Foster. “I’m not gonna live my life worried that someone will find old pictures of me on the internet with a different nose,” Erin says. “You will find those pictures, so I'll just tell you that I've had a nose job. I feel good about it.”

Both appear to have kicked the majority of their self-doubt demons. At this point in her career Erin is comfortable telling the nagging voice to shut up. “She’s always wrong,” she says. And although Sara says, she constantly second guessing herself and that as a mom her extracurriculars include sleeping, you can’t keep a good woman down on herself.

“There is nothing that a man can do that I can't. I have super powers,” she says. “I have carried two humans! Just live your life like there is no difference. I don't raise my daughters with the mindset of having to fight for their empowerment. Maybe that isn't smart, but I raise them with the idea that it's already in them." 

“Honestly,” she adds, “we have vaginas. We have all the power.” 

"We have vaginas. We have all the power." 

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If you have any doubt, Erin’s happy to back it up with facts. “The President of 20th Century Fox is a woman. The Chairman/CEO of 20th Century Fox is a woman. The Chairman/CEO of Fox TV is a woman. The head of BBC America is a woman. The president of ABC is a woman. The President of NBC is a woman. The president of PBS is a woman. The president of Universal TV is a woman. The chairman of Universal Pictures is a woman. The CEO of National Geographic is a woman. The president of CBS films is a woman. The CEO of YouTube is a woman. That's female empowerment.”

Styling provided by Reservoir LA. Hair and makeup provided by Glamsquad. Photography courtesy of Light Lab and Woodnote Photography.